The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-04-08

vrmy officer like you. You will find tn
lioer ways horrid, and then there viii onl,
he my oil uncle and us two for you 10 ascot
ale with"
John Mol laughed. "English gentlemen
amt 40 particular Sowadays, can tell you
Miss Croft, especially when they have to earn
living. Take my case, for instance, for
may ~ well tell you exactly how stand.
have been in the army fourteen years, ant
am now 81 Well, ! have been able TO liv,
there because had an old aunt who allowed
mo el20 year. Six months ago she died
leaving me tho little property she pos
sessed, for most Of her income camt
from an annuity. After paying ex
pcnses, duty, ETC., it amounts te
9l,ll5 Now, tho interest on that is about
ESQ a year, and ! can't live in the army on
that Just after my aunt's death l came to
Durham with my regiment from Mauritius,
and now they are ordered home. Well,
liked the country, and l knew that could
not afford to live at home, so got years
leave Of absence, and made up my mind to
have look round to see il could not take
to farming. Then gentleman in Durham
told me Of your uncle, and said that he
wanted to dispose OF third interest in his
place for 1000, as he was getting too old to
manage it himself; and SO l entered into COR
rcspondence with him and agreed to come I'D
for few months to 500 how liked it, and
accordingly here am, just in time to save
you from being knocked to bits by an os-
trich."
"Yes, indeed" she answered, laughingly;
"you've had a warm welcome at any rate
Well, hope you will like it,"
Just as he finished his story they got to the
top OF the rise over which the ostrich had
pursued Bessie Croft, and saw Kafiir COM
ing toward them, leading the pony in one
hand and Capt. Nicl's horse in the other.
About 100 yards behind the horses lady was
walking.
"Ah," said Bessie, "they've caught the
horses, and here is jess come to sec what is
the matter"
By this time the lady in question was quite
close, SO that John was able to get q first i'm
preston OF her. She was small and rather
thin, with quantities Of curling brown hair;
not by any means lovely woman, as her sis
ter undoubtedly was, but possessing two very
remarkable characteristics complexion of
extraordinary and uniform palHr, and pair
of the most beautiful dark eyes he had ever
looked OH. Altogether, though her size was
almost insignificant, she was striking look
ing person, with face one was not likely to
forget. Before he had time to observe any
more they were up to them.
"What OH earth is the matter, Bessiew she
said, with quick glance at her companion,
= to, f,,11
slight South African accent, that is taking
enough in pretty woman. Whereupon
Bessie broke out with history of their adj
venture, appealing to her companion for con-
fir1nation at intervals.
Meanwhile her sister, Jess, stood quite still
and silent, and it struck Capt. Mel that her
face was the most singularly impassive one
he had ever seen. 1t never changed, even
when her sister told how the ostrich rolled on
her and nearly killed her, or how they finally
subducd the foe "Dear me-" he thought to
himself, "what very remarkable woman!
She can't have much heart" But just as he
thought it the girl looked up, and then he
saw where the expression lay. 1t was in
those remarkable eyes. Impassive as her face
was, the dark eyes were alight with life and
sort of excitement that made them shine
gloriously The contrast betwAe n the shining
eyes and the impassive facd beneath them
struck him es SO extraoydiI4 rs to pe al
most uncanny; and, as a mstSer of fhct, it |
was doubtless both unusual and remarkable. |
"You have had wonderful escape, but |
am sorry for tho bird" she said at last.
"Why?" asked John.
because we We're great friends. was the
,nly person who could manage him."
"Ycs," put in Bessie, "the savage brute
would follow her about like dog. 1t was
lust the oldest thing I ever saw. But, come
III, we must be getting home; it's growing
lark. Mouti" (nedicine)- addressing the
Haffir in Zulu-"help Capt. Mel on to his
,orse. Be careful that the saddle does not
wist round; the girths may be loose"
Thus adjured, John, with the help Of the
zulu, clambered into his saddle, an example
hat the lady quickly followed, and they once
moro set of through the gathering darkness
PRESENTLY he bet>me aware that they were
,assing up drive bordercd by tall blue gums,
nd next minute the barking of large dog
nd the sudden appearance of lighted windows
old him that they had reached the house.
Vt the door-or, rather, opposite to it, for
here was q veranda in front-they stopped
III SOC VA puCh Iva oCS. AS SAACJ uAA ~ ouu |
( the house there came shout Of welcome,
nd presently in the doorway, showing out
lear against the light, appeared strik-
ag and, in its way, most pleasant figure.
Ie-for it was q man-was very tall, or,
ather, he had been very tall. Now he was
1uch bent with age and rheumatism. His
,ng white hair hung low upon his neck, and
ell back from a prominent brow. The top
+ the head was quite bald, like the tonsure Of
priest, and shone and glistened in the lamp
ght, and round this oasis the thin white
,cks fell down. The face was shriveled like
ne surface of well kept apple, and, like an
pple, rosy red. The features were aquiline
nd well marked, the eyebrows still black
nd very bushy, and beneath them shone
air Of gray eyes. as keen and bright as
awks'. But for ell its sharpness, there was
othins unpleasant or fierce about the face.
IN the contrary, it was pervaded by re-
larkable air of good nature and shrewdness.
or all the rest, the man was dressed iii rough
weed clothes, tall riding boots and held a
road brimnled Boer hunting hat in his
and. Such was the outer man of old Silas
roft, one of the most remarkable men in the
as John Mel first saw him.
as that you, Capt NielP roarel out the
entoran voice. "The natives said you were
1nli,c A welcome to youl I nm clad to